Understanding Basic Concepts
- explain the difference between weather and climate and the factors that influence both of these systems
- identify patterns in air movement
- identify the effects of air pressure
1. Define weather. The WEATHER is the condition of the atmosphere (or changes in the atmosphere) at a particular time and place.
2. What four factors affect weather
Climate is what you expect; Weather is what you get. Climate is about long-term records, trends and averages; Weather is the day to day experience.
Climate is the sum or synthesis of all the weather recorded over a long period of time. It tells us the average or most common conditions, or extremes, or counts of events, or frequencies. Weather is a description of conditions over a short period of time - a "snap shot" of the atmosphere at a particular time.
If weather is the watch then climate is the calendar
Developing Skills of Inquiry, Design and Communication
- design, construct, and test a variety of weather instruments
- use appropriate vocabulary, including correct science and technology terminology, in describing their investigations and observations
The following web site describes some of the instruments meteorologists use to collect data about the weather. http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/weather/instruments.html Use the information to complete the chart.
The source of this information is American so you may have to determine the equivalent metric unit to record in the chart.
Instrument Name
What It Measures
Unit of Measurement
barometer
measures atomispheric
pressure
millibars
thermometer
mesures air temperature
farienhiet or celcius
rain gauge
amount of rainfall
mm.
.
campbell strokes recorder
sunshine
glass ball
anemometer
wind speed
m.p.h
wind sock
wind
north south east west
hygrometer
temp. and humidity
ferinhiet and celsius
Weather Wise
Clouds
Understanding Basic Concepts
- explain the formation of clouds and the effects of different cloud formations on weather and climate
1. What are clouds? Clouds are a major part of our weather.
2. Explain how clouds form.Clouds form when air cools below its saturation point and causes water vapor to condense into tiny water droplets. The water droplets then form a cloud.
3. What are the 3 "families" of clouds and what do their Latin names mean? There are three families of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus. These are the latin names given to clouds in 1804. Cirrus means 'curl of hair', cumulus means 'heap', and stratus means 'layer'
4. Follow the links to learn about each type of cloud and then complete the table on the next page.
To help you identify clouds, download, print and construct the following "Cloud Key". http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/reproducibles/profbooks/cloudkey.pdf After completing the chart, you could try a Cloud Quiz at; http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/Students_Teachers/animations/cloudzstart.shtml
Weather Wise
Forecasting
Understanding Basic Concepts
-recognize large-scale and local weather systems
- predict local weather patterns using data from their own observations of weather and from weather reports
- identify patterns in air movement
Understanding Basic Concepts
- explain the difference between warm and cold fronts and the factors that influence both of these systems
- identify types of weather associated with each front
Write the capital letter A or B at the end each sentence. A = Cold Front B = Warm Front 1. Cool air mass - warm air mass moves in. B
2. Warm air mass - cool air mass moves in. A
3. Brings gentle rains that may last for hours or days. B
4. Strong winds are formed followed by heavy rain, crashing
thunder, and flashing lightning. A
5. When the front passes, the temperature warms up and it
becomes humid. A
6. When the front passes, the weather turns cooler. B
7. Farmer Brown prefers this type of front. B
8. Usually happens and is over with quickly. A
Weather Wise
The Elements of Weather
- explain the difference between weather and climate and the factors that influence both of these systems
- identify patterns in air movement
- identify the effects of air pressure
What is Weather?
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/weather/how.html1. Define weather. The WEATHER is the condition of the atmosphere (or changes in the atmosphere) at a particular time and place.
2. What four factors affect weather
Weather vs Climate
http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/index.htm3. What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate is what you expect; Weather is what you get.
Climate is about long-term records, trends and averages;
Weather is the day to day experience.
Climate is the sum or synthesis of all the weather recorded over a long period of time. It tells us the average or most common conditions, or extremes, or counts of events, or frequencies. Weather is a description of conditions over a short period of time - a "snap shot" of the atmosphere at a particular time.
If weather is the watch then climate is the calendar
Air Pressure
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/whighlow/whighlow.htm4. Complete the following chart:
High Pressure
Low Pressure
down
up
low wind and nice weather
higher wind worse weather
Weather Wise
Measuring the Weather
- design, construct, and test a variety of weather instruments
- use appropriate vocabulary, including correct science and technology terminology, in describing their investigations and observations
The following web site describes some of the instruments meteorologists use to collect data about the weather.
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/weather/instruments.html
Use the information to complete the chart.
The source of this information is American so you may have to determine the equivalent metric unit to record in the chart.
pressure
rain gauge
campbell strokes recorder
sunshine
glass ball
hygrometer
temp. and humidity
ferinhiet and celsius
Weather Wise
Clouds
- explain the formation of clouds and the effects of different cloud formations on weather and climate
Use this web site to answer the following questions.
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/weather/clouds.html
1. What are clouds? Clouds are a major part of our weather.
2. Explain how clouds form.Clouds form when air cools below its saturation point and causes water vapor to condense into tiny water droplets. The water droplets then form a cloud.
3. What are the 3 "families" of clouds and what do their Latin names mean? There are three families of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus. These are the latin names given to clouds in 1804. Cirrus means 'curl of hair', cumulus means 'heap', and stratus means 'layer'
4. Follow the links to learn about each type of cloud and then complete the table on the next page.
To help you identify clouds, download, print and construct the following "Cloud Key".
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/reproducibles/profbooks/cloudkey.pdf
After completing the chart, you could try a Cloud Quiz at;
http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/Students_Teachers/animations/cloudzstart.shtml
Weather Wise
Forecasting
-recognize large-scale and local weather systems
- predict local weather patterns using data from their own observations of weather and from weather reports
- identify patterns in air movement
Read the details at http://weathereye.kgan.com/cadet/forecast/camp.html and follow the links.
Cloud Forecasting
of white
or gray clouds
Weather Wise
Warm and Cold Fronts
- explain the difference between warm and cold fronts and the factors that influence both of these systems
- identify types of weather associated with each front
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2002/es2002page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
Write the capital letter A or B at the end each sentence.
A = Cold Front B = Warm Front
1. Cool air mass - warm air mass moves in. B
2. Warm air mass - cool air mass moves in. A
3. Brings gentle rains that may last for hours or days. B
4. Strong winds are formed followed by heavy rain, crashing
thunder, and flashing lightning. A
5. When the front passes, the temperature warms up and it
becomes humid. A
6. When the front passes, the weather turns cooler. B
7. Farmer Brown prefers this type of front. B
8. Usually happens and is over with quickly. A